I was wondering how to tell the difference's between a 48-50 F1, 51-52 F1's. When I look at a 48-50 F1 it is exactly that, one of those years. Same goes for the 51-52. The 48-50 is my favourite because of the grill, I find the 51-52 to be the ugly sister no one will date. When it comes to the 53-55, the grill pretty much tells the story but change the grill then you have to guess or at least I do. The 56 is a 56 as is the 57, but then comes 58-60. I know that there is certain trim pieces that tell the difference's, but what are they?

John

 

well i can tell you that 58 had the hood a little bit higher and the grill is kinda mesh type, and quad headlights.
59 had a different interior and FORD across the hood, and a different grill
60 had also a different grill didnt have FORD across the hood and a few minor other things.
thats all i got

 

49-50 are basically the same. 48 had chrome vent window trim, 49-50 did not (someone may correct me on this one), and between 51 and 52 is the hood trim. (again, someone may correct me if I'm wrong).

 

Hi there,

Maybe I can add a few things:

The most noteable difference between the 48 and 49 is: in 49 the red pinstripes on the silver painted grille bars were deleted, and the wheels were painted the color of the truck instead of black. Lastly the tailgate was strengthened by rolling a tapered truss type top edge. So much for telling the difference today.

The difference in 1950 was mainly in cab comfort. First was the relocation of the standard 3 speed shift from the floor to the column (mid year), there was an adjustable seat both forward and backward, and tilt. The 1950 model did offer a wider variety of heaters, radios, and dual wipers. 1950 was the first year for the "Magic Aire" fresh air heaters.

In 1951 the most notable exterior changes were the large back window and dog tooth front grille. The 51 had new instrument layout with rheostat in the headlight switch for instrument lights, handle throttle cable. The dispatch box cover, ash tray and radio speaker cover were redesigned Dual wipers were standard. The 51s standard rear end gear ratio was changed from 3.73 to 3.92 to 1. 1951 was the first year of the Five Star Extra Cab (along with its 40 some odd options including: stainless windshield trim, chrome wings, stainless window bars, triple hood spears inner door panels and arm rests, padded seat extra insulation). There were new single hood side spears and the hood nose had a three opening bull nose chrome cap, with a V8 on the upper valance (if the 239 was installed) The hood sides had a three slot indent under the hood spears. The new front and back bumpers now had rolled edges top and bottom. Truck had 1/2 inch offset removeable brake drums. The bed side panes were flat and the tailgate was redesigned to be "grain tight." Wood bed floors were used for the first time (instead of the wood metal sandwhich used earlier)

Differences between 51 and 52 started with introduction of the 215 OHV six cylinder engine instead of the L-head 223. Most of the other differences were cosmetic. The hood side spears had a round cap instead of the F1 (etc) embossed on the sprear. The bullnose on the 52 was painted not chome and had the V8 or I6 enblem on it. The word F-O-R-D was once again spelled out on the upper valance.

As far as 58-60, I'll let one of those guys step in and tell it.

There will be a test in 30 minutes!

Julie

 

Its a bit more complicated as there is never a "razor's edge" delineation between the model years, and some plants did things different than other plants. For instance some cabs had the drain tubes for the front windshield channel and others did not.

Julie, my 49 is equipped with the Magic Aire heater.

Didn't they go to the bigger back window in 1950? possibly mid year when they made the change from the sylish bed with the rounded stake pockets to the flat sided bed with the square stake pockets

I know there's lots of threads discussing model year changes and a search would give you tons of reading material.

Have fun
Bobby

 

I'm with you on this one Bobby, these trucks are like learning to speak english - theres always exceptions. It's interesting that you mention the Magic Aire on the 49. Some of the drawings in the Chassis parts catalogue say it was in 49 as well, but have we really figured out yet where the cut-off was from 49 to 50?

See also, I was had thought that the big back windows were strictly 51 but the bed change was mid 51 and a couple early 51s got the raised sides (same time as the Rating Plate change). I guess it depends on the book you are looking at the time....serial number on the right or left upper frame????? Right supposedly, but I mine is on the left. Got a Ford of Canada F-Series Owners manual that says they are supposed to be on the left. My US Owners manual say Right? Potato Pototo

Shoot, some of these truck were MADE darksiders to start with!

Tee Hee
J!

 

1948-50 are all almost identical except for a few minor differences. '48 have a beige grill, '49-50 have argent silver. One year had stainless wing window dividers, I'm not sure but I think it was '50. In mid '50 they changed box, only on the F-1,to the flat side. They also used the column shifter. and Other than that I think they are the same.

I'm not as up on the '51-52 model year but I know '51 was the first year for the wide back window. The major differences between '51 and '52, that I know is the hood trim. In '51 the FORD was on the hood emblem mounted to the nose of the hood. In '52 Ford used the FORD they used in '48-50, mounted on the filled panel above the hood. They also had different trim for the Five Star and standard cab that was different each of the two years.



Body Part Interchange Guide





.

 

OK, here's my $.02 worth. I've have owned a 48, two 49s, a 50, three 51s, and no 52s. None of these were equipted exactly the same. None of these cabs came with duel wipers and one of the 49 cabs did not have defroster slots at the top of the dash. Six cabs and all of them had different heaters and non were MagicAir. One of the 51s had a full door panel made of upolstered soy board, all the rest had full metal door panels with screw on access covers. All three of the 51s had steel over wood bed floors and non of them had raised sides. I've never seen a true 1950 big back window cab. Outboard brake drums were available as early as 1940 (I've got several sets out back). The throttle cable was standard on all trucks (my '54 has one) and most of the cars clear back into the early '30s One thing I have learned over the forty-five years of messing with old Fords is that nothing was carved in stone at Ford no matter what the parts books might say. And lastly, a friend of mine owns a 1948 F-6 flat bed dump (he's the third owner), all original as near as we can tell and the only heater it has ever had is a MagicAir. Tom

 

Woohooo......ain't it grand.........

Its probably a good thing there is no simple formula or parts book for figuring out what came on what model in what year. If things were "cut and dry" we wouldn't be able to spend countless hours on here argueing about it. Dang, we would probably have to go out to the shop and get back to work or something like that........lol

Ol" Henry gets the lasst laugh yet again

Bobby

 

Heh, heh, ........or something like that!

 

The following parts catalogs are available on CD's from hipoparts.com.

Trucks: 1948/56 (only 1953/56 body parts are listed) / 1957/63 / 1964/72 / 1973/79 / 1980/89.

Ford Cars: 1949/59 / 1960/64 / 1965/72 / 1973/79 / 1980/88.

1965/72 & 1973/79 car parts catalogs includes Bronco's.

 

Hey, lots of good information here and hope it helps others reading it, it has helped me. As far as the test Julie I'll have to study a bit. I knew that the trim had to do alot as how to tell the different years apart, at least I can group most of the model years within a few years, not so with anything I see from after the mid 70's. Vehicles after this point I can only pinpoint to within about a 10 year span. Them again, I guess it's all a matter of what a person is interested in. I was 14 when I first developed an interest in these old trucks, come to think of it they weren't all that old then, but being raised in the city you didn't see to many pickups as most people in our neighbourhood were factory workers and didn't have much use for a truck, anyone lucky enough to own a boat or camper hauled it behind thier car.